THIRD DAY

METZ-ETAIN-VERDUN

Leave Metz (Place d’Armes) by Rue d’Estrées, cross Place de Chambre (soon reached on the left), take Rue Faisan, then Rue St. Marie, leading to Moyen Bridge over an arm of the Moselle. Cross the bridge and take Rue du Pont-à-Mort. Cross the ramparts, then the second arm of the Moselle. Take Rue de Paris and, follow the tram lines towards Moulins; after crossing the second belt of ramparts and the railway, the route turns to the left.

THE PREFECTURE BRIDGE

The road hereabouts is bordered with fine trees. After passing through Ban-St.-Martin (Infantry Barracks on the right) and Longeville-les-Metz, the tourist arrives at Moulins.

At the fork, take the Verdun road, on the right, which passes in front of the barracks.

Two hundred yards beyond Moulins leave on the right the Briey road, and at the milestone marked “Metz 7 km.,” turn to the left into the uphill road to Gravelotte.

Near milestone “Metz 9 km.,” there is a fine view of Metz: in the foreground the village of Rozérieulles is seen in the valley; in the background, the Moselle valley and Metz.

At the top of Hill 342, the road passes near Joan-of-Arc Fort, formerly the German fort “Kaiserin.” It stands about 300 yards to the right of the road. The latter, a little further on, turns sharply to the left near a monument surrounded with trees, which was erected to the memory of the soldiers who fell in 1870. Several graves bear the inscription: “Krieger v. 18 8-1870.”

St. Hubert Farm is soon reached, then the deep Ravine of Mance, along which the defeated Germans were forced to retreat in the course of the great battle of August 16, 1870, fought between the villages of Gravelotte (which the tourist soon reaches), Rézonville and Mars-la-Tour (further west).

In Gravelotte (12 km. 700 from Metz) take the road to Doncourt (D.I.) on the right, in front of the Post Office. The road passes close to Mogador Farm, from which Kaiser Wilhelm I. saw his troops thrown into confusion and beating a hurried retreat under the cover of night.

After passing in front of Malmaison Farm, the old frontier is crossed.

Eight kilometres 900 beyond Gravelotte, Doncourt village is reached. Cross through and keep straight on along D.I. After passing by Jarny Mines, the road crosses the railway (l.c.) and enters Jarny village, 4 km. from Doncourt. Several houses were destroyed and the church badly damaged.

Two kilometres beyond Jarny, Conflans-en-Jarnizy is reached. Several of the houses were destroyed. Go through the village and at the far end take the Etain road. 5 km. from Conflans, Jeandelize is reached. The church (on the right) was torn open by shells. Note the Renaissance doors of several of the houses.

Keep straight on. Olley village (on the right) is passed, 2 km. beyond Jeandelize. There is a large German cemetery fifty yards from the road on the right.

St. Jean-lés-Buzy and Buzy (the latter 11 km. from Conflans) are passed through, after which Hill 198—on which is a German stronghold with blockhouse, trenches and barbed wire entanglements—is reached.

The partly destroyed village of Warcq is next passed through, after which 2 km. further on, Etain is reached.

NEAR GRAVELOTTE. GRAVES OF FRENCH SOLDIERS WHO FELL ON AUGUST 18, 1870

ETAIN. RUINED CHURCH AND HOUSES Seen from the bridge over the Orne, on the road to Verdun.